Switch lineup shines at The Game Awards – all winners in one place

Table of Content

On December 12, 2025, Nintendo highlighted a slate of The Game Awards winners playable on Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch. The list spans family-friendly platforming, high-speed racing, action roguelikes, and long-running space exploration. Each entry below includes the award category, platforms, and core gameplay beats taken from the official summary. Where available, official YouTube trailers are provided as shared in the announcement.

The selections include: Donkey Kong Bananza, Mario Kart World, Hades II, No Man’s Sky, Hollow Knight: Silksong, and FINAL FANTASY TACTICS – The Ivalice Chronicles.

At-a-glance: 2025 Nintendo-platform winners

The table summarizes the winners, their categories, and platform availability. It provides a quick reference before diving into individual highlights.

Donkey Kong Bananza – Best Family Game

Donkey Kong teams up with Pauline for an underground expedition that unfolds across layered biomes – from arid canyons to lush forests and frigid tundra. The official overview emphasizes peeling back the world’s strata to reveal new areas and surprises.

Official trailer (YouTube): https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/tdsRPs6rX4w

Mario Kart World – Best Sports/Racing Game

• Global-scale racing – the world becomes the racetrack, signaling a broader scope for course variety.
• Up to 24 drivers in a single race – a notable jump that suggests denser fields and tighter battles.
• Positioned as a “massive evolution” of the series, with competition emphasized across larger grids.

Official trailer (YouTube): https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/SDNnD65yq4s

Hades II – Best Action Game

Supergiant’s follow-up doubles down on its rogue-like dungeon crawler roots. The sequel sends players against the Titan of Time using dark sorcery, weaving in the Greek Underworld’s mythic backdrop and its links to the dawn of witchcraft. The official blurb reiterates the blend of fast combat and run-based progression.

Platforms: Switch 2 and Switch

Official trailer (YouTube): https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/PQ9pU5cV38Y

Read also our article: What’s coming to Xbox Dec 15-19 – horror, indie and strategy

No Man’s Sky – Best Ongoing Game

A long-running space exploration title inspired by classic science fiction, No Man’s Sky offers a galaxy of unique planets and lifeforms with constant danger and action. The ongoing support track is underscored by its recognition in the live service category.

Platforms: Switch 2 and Switch

Hollow Knight: Silksong – Best Action/Adventure Game

• Epic sequel to the award-winning action-adventure, set in all-new lands.
• Focus on new powers, challenging combat against vast hordes of bugs and beasts, and uncovering secrets tied to the protagonist’s past.

Platforms: Switch 2 and Switch

Official trailer (YouTube): https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/SyyNDebPKQE

FINAL FANTASY TACTICS – The Ivalice Chronicles – Best Sim/Strategy Game

The tactical RPG returns to Ivalice – a kingdom ruled by the Two-headed Lion – following defeat to Ordallia in the Fifty Years’ War. The king’s death and the ascension of a two-year-old heir set the stage for political intrigue and grid-based, strategy-driven encounters indicative of the series’ identity.

Platforms: Switch 2 and Switch

Final takeaway – why it matters

For players on Nintendo platforms, this year’s winners cover a broad spectrum – family co-op, large-format racing, run-based action, expansive exploration, precision platforming, and deep tactics. If you track The Game Awards for what to play next, this list maps cleanly onto Switch 2 and Switch – with official trailers and core beats to help you decide where to start.